Thiago Alcantara’s injury misery continues after Jurgen Klopp confirmed the Spaniard has suffered a second setback on his attempt to return after hip surgery.
The Spaniard hasn’t started for the Reds since the start of February because of the long-running issue, and while he would return to make four substitute appearances in April, it was decided that he would miss the end of last season to undergo surgery.
Although he returned to team training in August, the 32-year-old would suffer a setback that Klopp confirmed at the time would keep him out until after the September international break. But still yet to return, the German confirmed earlier this week that a second issue has kept the veteran on the sidelines.
“It’s just, for him (Thiago) especially, it’s annoying,” said Klopp. “He’s now had two setbacks in the rehab. Not massive but enough to take him off the pitch again.
“Obviously not the same injury, not at all, but a bit similar… That’s how it is after long-term injuries from time-to-time.
“I don’t know, I will not put pressure on that (his return). If they (Thiago and Stefan Bajcetic) will be back after the international break, we will see. Hopefully, it would be cool.”
Clearly, Liverpool don’t want to rush Thiago back at risk of further injury, with the midfielder having regularly suffered such issues throughout his career.
Limited to 11 appearances this calendar year, 2023 is certainly proving to be a year to forget for the Spaniard. Meanwhile, his return of 28 appearances last season, 22 of which were starts, are not only the lowest of his Anfield career but also the least he’s featured in a campaign since 2014/15 where he spent a year on the sidelines with a knee injury.
Out of contract next summer, Thiago, who was the subject of overseas interest in pre-season, is reportedly expected to leave Liverpool on a Bosman transfer when his current deal expires. Consequently, it remains to be seen how much of an impact he will be able to make during his likely final season on Merseyside.
In truth, the Reds haven’t missed him this season with engine-room revamp essentially ensuring the Spaniard’s availability can be treated as a luxury. He was first-choice for Liverpool last season before injury struck, and with the likes of Fabinho and Jordan Henderson struggling for form, would have certainly started at their expense if fit.
But now with the ageing pair having departed for Saudi Arabia, Klopp’s options are looking stronger than ever following after signing Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo, and Ryan Gravenberch as part of an £150m overhaul.
Already proving their quality at Anfield, alongside existing options Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott, the quartet have also been available for every match they have been eligible for since completing the move to Liverpool. That in itself has been a welcome change for Klopp, with so many of his engine-room options struggling for availability during his eight years at Anfield, and that being accepted by supporters as the norm.
After all, the fact that it took Mac Allister and Szoboszlai just four Premier League matches to register more minutes than both the departed Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain managed in the entirety of last season went viral at the start of September for a reason.
Those struggles with injuries are partly why, as quality a player as he is, it does feel that Thiago’s future reluctantly lies away from Liverpool beyond the end of the season. What good is his quality is not available to show it on the pitch? Such woes can no longer be overlooked and, with Fabinho, Henderson, Keita, Oxlade-Chamberlain, and James Milner all becoming former Reds this summer, Klopp is already building something different with this 2.0 side.
Could Brazil international Andre Trindade, who has been previously been touted as a potential long-term replacement for Thiago, be part of that?
The Reds held genuine interest in the 22-year-old this summer, only to be told that Fluminense had no desire to sanction an exit midway through the Brazilian season. Instead, they wished to retain the midfielder’s services until January, hoping he would help bolster their Copa Libertadores chances.
Had Fluminense been knocked out by Argentinos Juniors in the round-of-16 or Club Olimpia in the quarter-finals, there was an outside chance that the Brazilian outfit could have been tempted by a summer exit at either end of August. Instead, with Andre even scoring against the Paraguayans, they continued to march on in South America’s equivalent of the Champions League.
Fluminense overcame Internacional 4-3 on aggregate in the semi-finals in dramatic circumstances earlier this week, courtesy of two late goals, to set up a final meeting with Argentine giants Boca Juniors. Their stance of ‘not for sale… yet’ when it comes to Andre has certainly paid off.
But the midfielder still has their blessing to move on in January.
“There is an agreement between us, with the player and agent, that he would stay until the [Andre] end of the year,” Fluminense’s president, Mario Bittencourt explained on ESPN last month. “They [player and agent] have complied fully and with the utmost peace of mind. Every interest that comes in, they communicate with Fluminense.”
“Saying this first hand, we didn’t receive a proposal for him, only surveys for Andre. We chose not to sell him because we believed that we would reach the final stages of the Libertadores. It was a decision sporting criteria.
“In the case of Liverpool, I go even further. Liverpool’s Chief Executive [Billy Hogan] contacted me directly.
“I replied to him: ‘My friend, I don’t sell players now and I don’t deliver them now. If you want to buy now, and only get the player in January, we can start talking… Or if you want to wait until December, we can talk in December.”
It remains to be seen if Liverpool will come back in for Andre, but with Thiago expected to depart next summer, they could be in the market for a replacement. Having made 154 appearances for Fluminense over the past three years, the 22-year-old certainly ticks the availability box and fits the Reds’ desired profile too.
In Luis Diaz and Cody Gakpo, Liverpool’s last two January signings were essentially long-term replacements for Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino that the Reds managed to bring in six months early. With Andre’s availability in January confirmed, it will be possible for the club to repeat such a method again.
As ‘annoying’ as Thiago’s latest injury setback is for both club and player, it is not a surprise and perhaps reiterates why Liverpool should be planning for a future without the Spaniard. They are already reaping the benefits from their four most recent midfield signings at the expense of long-serving lieutenants after all.
And after Andre helped Fluminense move within 90 minutes of Copa Libertadores glory, justifying both their transfer stance and the Reds’ interest in the first place, Liverpool could have already have their potential long-term replacement for Thiago firmly in their sights.
